(My Chains are Gone)

My chains are gone, I've been set free, set free of the chains of unforgiveness, of bitterness!! Amazing love , amazing grace. I thank God for HIS work in me, in my little heart this weekend!!! This song goes straight to you my JESUS, my redeemer and restorer, my comforter and my love!!!!

XENOPHOBIA

Xenophobia attacks

Dear friends, you have probably heard some troubling news from this side of the world, from the very country I am in right now. Attacks of xenophobia arose in the province of Gauteng which is the area around Johannesburg and Durban. To sum up the news let me tell you that the attacks happen in the townships, the poor areas close to the big cities and they are aimed at foreigners to this country, mostly people from Zimbabwe (former Rhodesia), Botswana, Mozambique and Swaziland. There have been dozens of dead people and even President Mbeki ordering to have the army around to end those attacks.

Please know that I am ok

. You can pray with me for this country as the spirit of the old apartheid seems to come through again. Read more in the following articles and see you in the throne room! God bless you my dear friends, Kerstin http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/Xenophobia/Home/0,,2-7-2382,00.html http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/Xenophobia/0,,2-7-2382_2326952,00.html

UpdateMAI

Dear friends and supporters, dear dear ones, Another 3 weeks have gone by, a lot happened and here is my next letter hopefully arriving on a day full with His sunshine. I know that I know that I know that I am supposed to be here at such a time as this. My heart has arrived at Cape Town. I approach the 3 month mark soon and I am very content being here. Now, let me bring you up to speed with things here and let me give you specific prayer requests for this season of my life here as the Long Term Missionary: Life @the church (Coastland Community Church)This week the tiles will be up on the roof of the new building! What a landmark! Just going to the site and standing in the building stirs up praise and worship for all of us here. We continue to meet on Wednesday night to praise all together and those nights take the church to a different level in the spirit. I am glad to mingle more and more amongst the people from church. Just this last Sunday I was invited to a little girl’s 1 year birthday party and what really blessed and honored me was that they asked ME to do the honor of praying for that little girl. I was speechless. God is creating relationships….Pastor Xavier had the privilege to baptize his little 11 year old daughter this past Sunday and it was such a blessing to watch it happen. Kerstin’s work concerning healing and restoration I felt a kick off for the healing work as well as God using me those past 3 weeks. I started to facilitate the genesis process in my present small group (the pic here shows sister Connie from my small group) I can feel a lot of resistance in the spiritual realm. We will go into depth in that group in a week from now. I am not sure about the say because people’s schedules are just totally busy busy busy. Likewise, there are a lot of different struggles in these peoples’ lives here. I will lead another 2 ladies through the genesis process starting soon. The group of teen girls is more a challenge to me in these days: My challenge is to bring Jesus to them in the way they can understand it. Here again, all works through relationship, patience and me waiting upon the Lord and coming alongside HIM instead of me running to the front on my own. How is Kerstin and how are her parents?? I am doing pretty well. Yes, I am lonely in different ways, but I am also thankful to God because I do not struggle as much with it as I had thought I would. I love reading my BIBLE and spending extended time in it. My parents are kind of ok considering the situation that they are in: They’ve had chaos and no kitchen nor bathroom for 7 weeks now due to a plumbing problem in the walls and water running out. I am proud of them as of how they keep up a good attitude. However, it is hard on them: financially and emotionally. Thank God, my mom is on vacation now and off with her friend to a trip to Berlin for a few days. My dad can walk better and better, he can drive the car again but has still problems with his knees and his back. It seems an everlasting thing. Thank you for all your prayers for those two special people in my life! I appreciate it a lot. Please continue to hold them up and pray them into the kingdom of our Lord! What is there to pray and praise God about?

I am so glad to know that this is the right place for me right now right here- I am thankful for that. Please pray for continual protection over me: physically, emotionally and spiritually. Hepatitis A and different flue bugs are fling around and I need God’s cover over my body every day. Please pray for my parents for God’s touch and HIS provision for them. Please pray for my genesis group and the 3 ladies in there, for protection and for God’s touch and HIS work to be fulfilled. Please pray for HIS healing touch on this congregation and in the families and endangered marriages. Please pray for my 3 teen girls and our times together: good relationship and ideas how to show Jesus to them. Please pray for me to listen to God, to receive HIS wisdom and to learn how to spot where HE is working so I can come alongside HIM.

Thank you so much. Thank you for writing to me and letting me know about your lives. I love it. I will say it again: You are here with me and part of me and what God is doing in me and through me. It is an adventure and with Jesus it is a victorious one, isn’t it? Much love to you all and may this day be filled with the soothing, joyful, tender voice of our Almighty Father, the one who made the Heavens and the Earth. Seek the Lord and let HIM hold your heart in HIS big hand. He is in control and HE will do what HE has promised! Count your blessings and feel a hug coming from far away God’s abundant peace be with you In HIS tender grip,

Kerstin

WINTERapproaching

When do you know that the winter is approaching here in Cape Town? As a foreigner, a German and American (somehow) I think I can pose this question. Everything seems the same, it is sunny, maybe a bit cooler, a bit fresher and the wind is stronger. However, I found something that gives me a pretty good idea of hen the winter is approaching: Take a look at my dog here. Her sweet name is Bella and as soon as little Bella starts wearing her jerseys like this one (Red and white stripy). Here you go… Winter is approaching 

POWERFULbeyondMEASURE

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves: “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?” “Actually, who are you NOT to be??” We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

1yearAGO

1 year ago, one year ago, one year ago…..this week I am pondering about those ten days when I left the States for a short mission trip to Cape Town South Africa last year in late April. I remember how afraid I was for I knew that God was heavily on my heart and I was about to decide to move here and do what God wants me to do. I was confronted with sheer fear and anxiety for that new step and new season of my life would be sooo different. I was blessed here last year and I gave my full heart to Jesus knowing that wherever HE sends me that would be the place where I would go (see my past posts from that time last year)(and this one).... This morning, God reminded me of HIS work in me during that last year. The moment I set my foot on American soul again after being in South Africa I knew with no shadow of a doubt that that is where I would go next. God gave me such a big assurance that I could help but smile all the time. I felt a new confidence arise in me and I know that was the work of my Jehovah Jireh (Genesis 22:14), my Jehovah Rohi (Isaiah 44:28). Yes He is my provider and HE is the Lord my Shepherd, the One who protects me, provides for me and who is present with me. Now, one year later, I am actually living in Cape Town, South Africa and I know that this is where I am supposed to be. 1 year later I have another testimony to point to my Jesus for HE is freeing me from fear and anxiety and HE helps me to risk and walk with HIM! Every day anew!!!!!

FAITHikePOTATOES

Lifestyle relationship! That is what fascinates me at the moment. It is all about relationship and being real and authentic. It is all about WALKING THE TALK and about a faith that shows reality. This is part of my work right now in my Junior High small group of girls that I am leading. Likewise it is a big theme for our church here at the moment. This last Saturday evening I put in a DVD in my laptop and have not been the same since. I watched a South African movie that blew my mind and touched my heart so much! I know…those who know me well also know that I am a pretty emotional individual (grin) but still, this movie is such a gem. It is called: Faith Like Potatoes (2006) (www.faithlikepotatoes.com) It’s the true story of an African (Zambian) farmer with Scottish heritage who encounters God and changes lives. Go ahead and look for it in your Blockbuster video shops…ask or find it as a DVD on the internet. It is worth every cent and every minute you watch. There are a lot of good movies out. However only a few really reach that deep and leave an everlasting touch of Jesus on our hearts. This is one of them. I blogged about good books on here like REDEEMING LOVE by Francine Rivers or THE ATONEMENT CHILD. It is awesome to see what good stuff is about apart from so much fluff and entertainment. Faith Like Potatoes: Angus Buchan, a Zambian farmer of Scottish heritage leaves his farm in the midst of political unrest and racially charged land and reclaims and travels south with his family to stat a better life in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. With nothing more than a caravan on a patch of land, and help from a Zulu called Simeon, the Buchan family struggle to settle in this new country. Faced with ever mounting challenges, hardships and personal turmoil, Angus quickly spirals down into life consumed by anger, fear and destruction. It is a true story of this farmer who, like his potatoes, grows his faith, unseen until the harvest!!! May our faith be like that one of a potato: real and unseen until it is time for the harvest!!!

LIFEhere

Long time no see  It is my 6th week here in South Africa and I am getting settled more and more. So many things run through my mind every day. I check on the building every once in a while to see how far the builders are and I cannot wait to see the new church building finished. In the meantime we are having a fast with the entire congregation to fast for breakthrough in our lives but also to fast for breakthrough for the building. We need the money for having the roof put on. In all this we are through the half of the fast time already (16days all in all). During this time, we meet every Wednesday night to praise together and sing joyful songs to breakthrough heaven and praise our God Almighty. I am fasting from the internet which is not that easy for me. See, I am not able to fast food because of the medication that I take. It is an interesting time and a time for me to press into the Lord, to read in HIS word more and to concentrate on HIS truth. Likewise, it is a time where I battle emotions of loneliness and the feeling of being overwhelmed day in and day out. I go to the beach a lot and chase waves….as well as take the time to praise God despite of all I am feeling right now. My life has changed drastically in the last year. From Oregon to Germany to Cape Town and I can feel all those changes. I am not too fond about changes; I have to say though that in a life of faith CHANGE is the very constant thing apart from Christ of course. The season changed here about a week or two ago. Now it is fall and the only thing that is different is that the nice breeze increased and that it is colder in the evening. I am so thankful of staying at a place close to the beach where I can profit from the weather as much as possible. In this time a lot so happening at the same time. Coastlands Community Church is in need of a lot and it is hard to see that and wait on God and wait on how HE will provide and meet the needs here. I am helping out in youth ministry right now where I take on a teen group for girls (ages 13/14). See this church focuses a lot on families with children. This means that we have the children there without a certain message for them. Right now we concentrate on bridge building (relationship) to connect with the youth. The goal is to point them to Jesus. My group consists of 3 girls. I am glad to be able to pour into their hearts and lives. Restoration and Healing…..the shape of this church will be clearer from month to month and I am here to be God’s hands extended to this church and this community and to find how to bring HIS tools of healing and restoration here.

blessingTIMES

Here I am close to Easter sunday actually. I wanted to post some pics from my walk on the beach yesterday. It is really warm here, summer time actually and hard to believe that it snows in Germany or Holland..... I now have my own cell group and I am so glad for that one. We meet on wednesday nights and we pray and have some a cappella worship time. God is good and I am eager to celebrate Easter here!! by the way: the moon looks different here! It is true! enjoy the pics...I will also include the ones from my tour at night to see the lights over Cape Town from last night.....

myJERICHO

Culture shock...my JerichoShare 2:40pm Wednesday, Mar 19 | Edit Note | Delete Wow it is three weeks that I set my feet on South African soil and since then I've walked this ground....on the beach....on the streets....on the Ostrich Farm.... so after realizing more and more taht I am experiencing some culture shock...I decided to proclaim taht I am starting to walk around my Jericho and when the time comes I will blow the horn and I will sing and worship and after a while of walking and praying around this Jericho I WILL see the walls fall!!!!! My Jericho? that is me being here in CApe Town, where i know God called me to but NOW finding HOW HE wants me to do what He has given me and knowing GOD that will be quite a journey cuz our God cannot be put into a box and I try not to put HIM there. My heart is willing ..sometimes fear creeps in and I ask myself how on earth am I supposed to do what God is calling me to...but then I know taht I just need to be Kerstin and HE will do the rest :) I call the walls of my Jericho to fall!!! JERICHO and its fall!!!!!!! read about in thebook of Joshua

@Jenny

Here I am , finally posting a view pictures I hope. I have been with Granny Jenny for all this week now. Unfortunetely but expectedly, I have entered culture shock now. My emoitons go rampart on me and the levels of me feeling things are as deep as teh ocean and as high as tablemountain. I know it though and that makes all the difference. Here are some pictures of how I am living right now and also more. On monday I went to a fabrique shop with the lady I stay with. I saw a worker there, I started praying when I saw her and thought that maybe God had something there. So I said: Lord, talk to me if you want to. He did and I found out that that worker came from the Congo speaking French. So I delivered th word God had for her and we started sahring God's love in the middle of that fabrique shop.! WOW! 2 days ago and I went to the beach to talk to God and praise HIM when I asked a man to take a picture of me. It turns ou that that was a divine appointment and we could pray ont he beach. Every day I come to realize how much God is not only with me but working through me!! this is incredible but I trust my God although I am going through some lonely and hard spots right now. God is good and HE is sovereign. TO HIM BE ALL THE GLORY!!

BeaconOfHOPEandOtherThoughts

Nelson Mandela called Tablemountain a Beacon Of Hope. That is what it was to him and so many other prisoners who were held on Robben Island for so many years. Actually this mountain fascinates me. Wherever I go here, it is the mountain that I see. Then I look for the face of this man looking up into heaven and I smile. It is a Beacon Of Hope for me as well. Hope for God's way of things and for HIS timing. The verse God gave me last night while I was in a homegroup is the following: Proverbs 16:3 -Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed (Amplified Bible). This is what I have been doing...all my expectations and fears and doubts and burdens and hunger and thirst..all this I am rolling upon my Lord. So many thoughts run through my mind when I am walking along the streets that don't have any pavement for walking people: Where do I need to walk ..on the left side? on the right side? I do have to look right first when I want to cross a road not like we do (we need to look left first then right). All is twisted. The driver sits on the right side in the car and the car drives on the let side of the road(aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargggghh)..... I am getting to know thi area a bit better. I actually stay close to the beach called Dolphin beach. Blouubergstrand is further up in the west. God tells me to be patient and to wait upon HIM, ok, I say. Last night He really blessed me by being invited to my landladz Jane's homegroup. We worshipped prayed and fellowhsipped. Oh how I needed taht. So here we go Proverbs 16 verse 3: Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.